Posts tagged with ‘Article’

Chris Darby, as seen all over Chicago! Read the article here.

Chris Darby, as seen all over Chicago! Read the article here.

Chris Darby got an awesome write up, and from the sound of it, a spot on the cover of this weeks Redeye magazine in Chicago. The publication is associated with the Chicago Tribune. Here’s what they had to say about Chris: Chris Darby of Portage Park has held a lot of titles: carpenter, bike messenger, busboy; but the one that’s earned him the most recognition is folk musician.The singer-guitarist formed the band Them Damn Kids in La Grange nine years ago with friend Rolland Gairroes, whom he met in college in Missouri a few years before.Darby says his lyrics and sound are rooted in his own “working class” experiences. They’re heavily influenced by his folk peers in Chicago and states he’s visited in the Midwest during his tours, making his connection to the genre an easy fit.“It seemed to come up naturally, I guess. There wasn’t really a plan,” said Darby, 30, who considers lyric-based tunes to be folk music.Darby’s new plan is to tour the Midwest for six weeks this summer with a stop June 10 at the Red Line Tap in Rogers Park as part of a three-day songwriter festival. Them Damn Kids, which produced four full-length albums known for their hushed vocals, is on hiatus, so he’s a solo artist now.Over the years, he’s performed 400 shows in 30 states, including a residency at Uncommon Ground in Lakeview, and hosted songwriter showcases for local folk musicians and those on tour.As he’s toured the country, Darby’s met musicians at shows and through friends of friends, who’ve lent him a couch to crash on. He’s returned the favor by giving touring artists a place to stay and gas money.Darby said he’s felt comfortable relying on others because he belongs to a tight musician network.“It’s pretty safe,” Darby said. “If someone seems like a loose cannon, I just sleep in my car.”Darby admitted the lengths that he goes to for other musicians is “pretty extensive,” but he praised Chicago’s folk population as “really communal. People are interested in what other people are doing and willing to help each other out.” Read the full article here. Congrats, Chris!

Chris Darby got an awesome write up, and from the sound of it, a spot on the cover of this weeks Redeye magazine in Chicago. The publication is associated with the Chicago Tribune. Here’s what they had to say about Chris:

Chris Darby of Portage Park has held a lot of titles: carpenter, bike messenger, busboy; but the one that’s earned him the most recognition is folk musician.

The singer-guitarist formed the band Them Damn Kids in La Grange nine years ago with friend Rolland Gairroes, whom he met in college in Missouri a few years before.

Darby says his lyrics and sound are rooted in his own “working class” experiences. They’re heavily influenced by his folk peers in Chicago and states he’s visited in the Midwest during his tours, making his connection to the genre an easy fit.

“It seemed to come up naturally, I guess. There wasn’t really a plan,” said Darby, 30, who considers lyric-based tunes to be folk music.

Darby’s new plan is to tour the Midwest for six weeks this summer with a stop June 10 at the Red Line Tap in Rogers Park as part of a three-day songwriter festival. Them Damn Kids, which produced four full-length albums known for their hushed vocals, is on hiatus, so he’s a solo artist now.

Over the years, he’s performed 400 shows in 30 states, including a residency at Uncommon Ground in Lakeview, and hosted songwriter showcases for local folk musicians and those on tour.

As he’s toured the country, Darby’s met musicians at shows and through friends of friends, who’ve lent him a couch to crash on. He’s returned the favor by giving touring artists a place to stay and gas money.

Darby said he’s felt comfortable relying on others because he belongs to a tight musician network.

“It’s pretty safe,” Darby said. “If someone seems like a loose cannon, I just sleep in my car.”

Darby admitted the lengths that he goes to for other musicians is “pretty extensive,” but he praised Chicago’s folk population as “really communal. People are interested in what other people are doing and willing to help each other out.”

Read the full article here. Congrats, Chris!

My Old Kentucky Blog did a great write-up on Lee Miles’ for their ‘New Song’ feature and made No You’re Not. You’re Disloyal their new song of the day today, December 28th. Here’s an excerpt: Fort Wayne’s Lee Miles is hell-bent on proving that, even if Jack and Diane are the blessed couple of Indiana roots music, the story need not end there for The Hoosier state. Through the course of a dozen thoughtful and tuneful numbers, Miles’ newest record, The Leaving, makes it abundantly clear that this is a young man with his own voice and plenty to say. More impressively, he avoids the temptation of trying to be too clever, a trap that has snared more young folkies than is fit for mention. (Read more)

My Old Kentucky Blog did a great write-up on Lee Miles’ for their ‘New Song’ feature and made No You’re Not. You’re Disloyal their new song of the day today, December 28th. Here’s an excerpt:

Fort Wayne’s Lee Miles is hell-bent on proving that, even if Jack and Diane are the blessed couple of Indiana roots music, the story need not end there for The Hoosier state. Through the course of a dozen thoughtful and tuneful numbers, Miles’ newest record, The Leaving, makes it abundantly clear that this is a young man with his own voice and plenty to say. More impressively, he avoids the temptation of trying to be too clever, a trap that has snared more young folkies than is fit for mention. (Read more)

Chronicle of a Bad Year

from Lee Miles:

leeandbentley

Songwriter Lee Miles pays a lot of attention to words. There’s hardly a throw away line in his lyrics, no pat phrases chosen just to fit a rhyme scheme or fill a chorus, so it’s probably not surprising that when talking about his new album The Leaving, Miles seems a little… (Read More)

Open Your Grievous Heart Review

Greg Locke of Ze Catalist has posted a review of Open Your Grievous Heart 

For now, we have Grievous Heart as a reminder of [Lee Miles’] rare ability to sometimes write perfect songs. Someday, I’ve no doubt, these songs will get out there to a larger audience; for now, he’s a regional treasure whose every release is worth getting to know. With this release Miles continues to keep the bar held high for his songwriter contemporaries. 

You can read the full review here.

“I don’t think she had an idea we were going to make an album—it just happened.” That, in a nutshell, is the story behind Lub Dub, the new album from accordion-slinging chanteuse Pezzettino (a.k.a. Margaret Stutt) and Milwaukee hip-hop producer LMNtylst (a.k.a. Brandon Birchbauer). LMNtylst approached Pezzettino about collaborating after hearing her funk-tinged single “You Never Know” on Radio Milwaukee; what started out as working on a single track quickly turned into an eight-song album that took both collaborators out of their comfort zones. - more on The A.V. Club Milwaukee

“I don’t think she had an idea we were going to make an album—it just happened.” That, in a nutshell, is the story behind Lub Dub, the new album from accordion-slinging chanteuse Pezzettino (a.k.a. Margaret Stutt) and Milwaukee hip-hop producer LMNtylst (a.k.a. Brandon Birchbauer). LMNtylst approached Pezzettino about collaborating after hearing her funk-tinged single “You Never Know” on Radio Milwaukee; what started out as working on a single track quickly turned into an eight-song album that took both collaborators out of their comfort zones. - more on The A.V. Club Milwaukee

“Pezzettino made instant fans of us when we first heard her debut a few years ago. She stayed on our radar by bringing us baked goodies and by blogging for us from the road. And, of course, by continuing to make some of the freshest, most vibrant music to emerge from Milwaukee in recent years.”  - from OnMilwaukee.com

“Pezzettino made instant fans of us when we first heard her debut a few years ago. She stayed on our radar by bringing us baked goodies and by blogging for us from the road. And, of course, by continuing to make some of the freshest, most vibrant music to emerge from Milwaukee in recent years.”  - from OnMilwaukee.com

‘Sideman’ goes solo

Jon Keller was interviewed about the release of his first LP, Down In A Mirror, by  The Fort Wayne Reader.

You can gain some insight on the record directly from Keller and also read a short synopsis of the album courtesy of Ben Larson.

In regards to his experience recording a solo album, after years of playing in bands where he was not the principal songwriter, he said, “it was awesome, but mostly really nerve-wracking. Recording was really fun, because I had never done it before, but then actually playing [those recordings] for people was terrifying.” He’s been getting some great feedback from peers, however, and had this to say about that: “It’s humbling to hear what people have said, because I don’t ever expect them to say anything good about it.”

Read the rest of the article here.

I had all those songs, and they made sense together, and I realized that these are the most personal songs I’ve ever written.
Lee Miles on Open Your Grievous Heart from The Fort Wayne Reader.

Songwriter Festival

Loud Loop did a write up on Chris Darby’s Songwriter Festival being held in Chicago this week. For those of you in the area, today is the first day of the festival. Don’t miss it!

A New Band A Day

Longsleeves; Collect-this, Collect-that, Collect to Win!

Today, June 21st, Longsleeves is the featured band on A New Band A Day, a great UK based music blog that, true to its name, features a new band or artist every day. Not only did they mention Longsleeves, they also talk a little bit about the power of collectives in modern music and art. It’s a very gracious article, here’s what they had to say about Elderberry:

By dragging together such desperate sounds – glossy, pearly synth noises, hissing, compressed snares, the sound of a 1980′s home computer loading from a tape, Longsleeves are not only light years ahead of the majority but also the best and most persuasive argument for the collective system yet. Great. (continue reading…)

Remember Elderberry is completely FREE to download and you can get it here. 

Chris Darby's Songwriter Night covered on Gapers Block

For the last few years, Phyllis’ has been the venue of choice for Chris Darby’s bimonthly songwriter showcase, which began in his Logan Square apartment in 2004. Although Darby is leaving Chicago in mid-July for a ten month tour across the country, there’ll be an encore for his songwriter series: a three day Songwriter Festival at Phyllis’ Musical Inn, which takes place on July 7, 9, and 10.